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7:00 AM ET, February 26, 2019

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 Top News: 
Associated Press:
All eyes on Kikuchi during his spring debut for Mariners  —  PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) — Yusei Kikuchi felt the nerves Monday that would normally accompany taking the mound in front of tens of thousands of fans in a major ballpark, not the few thousand who showed up for a spring training game in the desert.
RELATED:
Ryan Divish / The Seattle Times:   ‘Better than pretty good’: Yusei Kikuchi impresses Mariners, strikes out Reds' Joey Votto in debut
Shannon Drayer / sports.MyNorthwest.com:
Notebook: Teammates talk Yusei Kikuchi as LHP prepares for Mariners debut
Discussion: Lookout Landing and U.S.S. Mariner
Rob Longley / Toronto Sun:
Tulowitzki hits homer then rips Jays team that “told me I couldn't play anymore”  —  TAMPA — In the big picture of exhibition baseball it meant next to nothing, especially given we are still in the shaking off the rust portion of the program.  —  But for disgruntled Blue Jays fans …
RELATED:
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
James Paxton debut adds fuel to Yankees legend's dream prediction  —  TAMPA — James Paxton made his debut in pinstripes Monday with a solid spring outing.  The left-hander pitched two scoreless innings, walking two and striking out two in the Yankees' 3-0 win over the Blue Jays at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
ESPN:
Yankees name Andy Pettitte special adviser to GM
Discussion: MLB Trade Rumors
John Fay / Cincinnati.com:
Cincinnati Reds top prospect Nick Senzel gets his (two) chances in center field  —  PEORIA, Ariz. - The Reds started to get answers to the biggest question of Reds spring Tuesday.  —  So can top prospect Nick Senzel play center field?  —  Let's just say we don't know a lot …
RELATED:
John Fay / Cincinnati.com:   Seattle Mariners play long ball in 11-3 win over Cincinnati Reds
John Fay / Cincinnati.com:   Cincinnati Reds greenlit for steal attempts in spring training; in-season focus different
Mark Fischer / New York Daily News:
Bryce Harper free agency: Things get weird on Day 119  —  The Dodgers see the Phillies “stupid money,” and raise them a Brinks truck.  —  Now, Bryce Harper, take your pick, and abandon the free agent list like Manny Machado.  —  It took 119 days for the Dodgers to get on board with the notion of turning Hollywood into Harperwood.
Discussion: NBCSports.com and The Big Lead
RELATED:
Patrick Rishe / Forbes:
The Economic And Marketing Logic Of Manny Machado To The San Diego Padres
Discussion: AZ Snake Pit
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Dodgers enter mix for Bryce Harper, who expects to make decision by the end of the week
Tom Haudricourt / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Jimmy Nelson backs off from throwing with arm fatigue, but the Brewers say they're not worried  —  PHOENIX - Right-hander Jimmy Nelson was backed off from throwing over the weekend after experiencing what was called “arm fatigue,” a situation the Milwaukee Brewers' baseball bosses did not consider a noteworthy setback.
Discussion: MLB Trade Rumors
RELATED:
Tom Haudricourt / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Known as a fierce competitor, Brewers pitching prospect Zack Brown is a rising stock in system  —  TEMPE, Ariz - When the topic of discussion turns to right-hander Zack Brown in the coaches' room at the Milwaukee Brewers' spring training facility, manager Craig Counsell said the same word invariably comes up.
Discussion: Brew Crew Ball
Deesha Thosar / New York Daily News:
Noah Syndergaard gets ‘goosebumps’ over endless Mets possibilities  —  WEST PALM BEACH - Noah Syndergaard didn't bother suppressing the heat in his Grapefruit League debut.  —  The flame-throwing right-hander clocked in at 98 mph on the first pitch and settled in the upper-90s across two shutout innings against the Astros on Monday.
RELATED:
Matt Ehalt / Daily Record:   Michael Conforto ‘open to anything’ if NY Mets want to talk contract extension
Associated Press:
Roberts: Kershaw “didn't feel so great” after playing catch  —  SHARE URL EMAIL FBMSNGR WHATSAPP SMS  —  GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Clayton Kershaw felt more soreness in his left shoulder playing catch Monday, and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts says the three-time Cy Young Award winner “didn't feel so great.”
Discussion: baseballmusings.com
RELATED:
ESPN:
Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw 'didn't feel great' after playing catch, Dave Roberts says
Discussion: MLB Baseball News …
Kristie Ackert / New York Daily News:
Aaron Hicks' surprise extension gives insight into Yankees mindset  —  TAMPA — The Yankees are betting on their future now.  —  On Monday, they locked up center fielder Aaron Hicks to a seven-year, $70 million deal, marking the second extension the Yankees have struck with the core of their young team this spring.
RELATED:
Ronald Blum / Associated Press:   Aaron Hicks, Yankees agree to $70 million, 7-year deal
Toronto Sun:   Outfielder Aaron Hicks, Yankees agree to huge seven-year deal
Rob Bradford / WEEI:
Dombrowski: Red Sox won't be signing any more relievers  —  BRADENTON, Fla. — For those holding out hope Craig Kimbrel might still be an option for the Red Sox, Dave Dombrowski pretty much put an end to that line of thinking Monday morning.  —  Talking at LECOM Park prior …
RELATED:
John Tomase / WEEI:
Steven Wright not pitching yet, but Red Sox confident he's making progress
Discussion: NESN.com
Rick Hummel / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Pitching prospect Jake Woodford making a name for himself in Cardinals camp  —  JUPITER, Fla.  • He is not the blazer like Jordan Hicks or Alex Reyes.  Or at the next level, Ryan Helsley.  But Jake Woodford, a 22-year-old Tampa area product, may be the Cardinals' next top pitching prospect, a righthander you don't really know.
Associated Press:
Zack Greinke's efficiency impresses new D-backs catcher Carson Kelly  —  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The Arizona Diamondbacks have tried to match up Zack Greinke with the same catcher per the pitcher's request.  On Monday, 24-year-old Carson Kelly got his first chance behind the plate in the ace's first spring training start.
Bill Plunkett / Orange County Register:
Dodgers continue to pile up the offense in win over Cubs  —  THE GAME: The Dodgers have scored 31 runs in their first three Cactus League games after beating a Chicago Cubs split-squad team 11-2 on Monday at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz.  —  PITCHING REPORT: RHP Brock Stewart had a rough first inning …
Discussion: True Blue LA
Peter Schmuck / The Charlotte Observer:
Jonathan Schoop was ‘heartbroken’ when he left Orioles, but now he's in a better place with Twins  —  Former Orioles second baseman Jonathan Schoop is playing for his third major league team in the last seven months, but the Minnesota Twins seem like a perfect fit.
RELATED:
Associated Press:   Versatile Gonzalez finalizes $21M, 2-year deal with Twins
Matthew Florjancic / WKYC-TV:
Terry Francona: ‘Fans want to see splashy moves,’ but likes what Indians did to bolster bullpen  —  Manager Terry Francona understands that fans want to see splashy moves, but feels the Cleveland Indians ‘did a good job’ bolstering their bullpen for the 2019 season.
RELATED:
Matthew Florjancic / WKYC-TV:   Jake Bauers: Indians' culture ‘all about winning’
Anthony Fenech / Detroit Free Press:
Detroit Tigers' Jordan Zimmermann now has full health, tweaked pitches  —  CLEARWATER, Fla. — The last time Jordan Zimmermann pitched for Doug Mientkiewicz, it went badly.  —  He was injured.  There were boos.  —  Zimmermann didn't know how hurt he was at the time …
Maria Torres / Baltimore Sun:
How a journeyman pitcher, dressed in a shark onesie, livened up Angels camp  —  Forrest Snow juggles some baseballs during the team's photo day on Feb. 22, 2017, in Phoenix.  (Morry Gash / Associated Press)  —  A “USA!  USA!  USA!” chant broke out in the Angels clubhouse at Tempe Diablo Stadium on Monday morning.
Discussion: Los Angeles Times
 
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 More News: 
Larry Stone / Kansas City Star:
Hunter Strickland hopes fresh start with Mariners results in positive vibes
David Purdum / ESPN:
NGC declines MLB's request to prohibit betting on spring training games
Discussion: Bleacher Report
Teddy Greenstein / Chicago Tribune:
5 takeaways from White Sox spring training: Eloy Jimenez, Luis Robert and Zack Collins show their stuff
John Shea / San Francisco Chronicle:
A's Frankie Montas has new pitch, better equipped to make roster
Discussion: Athletics Nation
Gabriel Burns / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Max Fried begins his bid for Braves opening day roster
KHOU-TV:
Baseball is coming! Celebrate Astros with Game of Thrones bobbleheads
Discussion: Pinstripe Alley and Let's Go Tribe
 Earlier Picks: 
Evaristo Montoya / Kansas City Star:
Well-traveled Royals minor-league pitcher Jake Kalish hopes his next stop is KC
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
5 takeaways from Cubs spring training: Jon Lester scoffs at proposed changes; David Bote …
Associated Press:
Josh Harrison can earn up to $3M as part of Tigers deal
SNY:
Mets at Astros, Monday at 1:05 p.m.
Patrick Saunders / Denver Post:
Manager Bud Black agrees to 3-year contract extension with Rockies
Gabe Lacques / USA Today:
Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell betting big on himself and Tampa Bay Rays
Discussion: DRaysBay
 

 
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